Hey there. One thing that has come up again and again on my own journey, and in coaching others, is how we deal with obstacles. In weight loss. In fitness. In life. The challenges are going to show up. What matters more than the challenge itself is how you respond. That response impacts your progress, sure, but it impacts your mental and emotional well-being even more.
A lot of people get stuck in this idea that every hardship has to be a life lesson. I don’t buy that. Life will teach you plenty. Not every bump in the road needs to be turned into a motivational quote. Sometimes the only takeaway is this hurts… and I need to sit with it.
When you feel that emotional heaviness, whatever it is, let yourself feel it. That might be journaling. That might be talking to someone you trust. And sometimes… that might be crying. Yes, even if you’ve been taught not to cry. Yes, even if it feels uncomfortable. Crying helps you release things that have built up. That release is powerful. And necessary.
If you’ve never let yourself go there emotionally, it might all come out at once. That’s okay. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re actually doing something really important. You’re processing instead of stuffing it down. And when that emotion comes back again, because it might, you’ll know what to do with it.
In fitness and personal development, there’s often this push to focus only on the productive side. But we need to talk about the emotional side too. Because eating, exercise, and body image are tied so deeply to how we feel about ourselves. You can take a logical approach all day. That might help you stay consistent on paper. But if you don’t make room for how you feel, it’s not going to stick.
This is why the inside/out approach is so important. It’s about making room for the whole you. The habits. The mindset. The emotions.
If you want to start working through this process on your own, check out the YLF Blog or sign up for the Daily Email. And if you’re ready for more support, guidance, and structure, let’s work together. You can start one of my coaching programs here.